The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-03-12

nature renders it suitable Is Il heat.
giving food. The immense hides used
for covering boats after being Scrapad
to remove the hairy surface. In hunt
ing the walrus the rifle is used by the
natives, but it would be safe to say that
within the past few years not more
than 100 have been killed between st.
Lawrence island and Point Barrow,
owing to their shy nature. While wal
rus ivory has so deprecated in value
that it does not pay to bring it to this
port, a demand has sprung up for the
hides, which have been found to make
the finest and most durable leather for
betting purposes. The use of the tusks
that form the appendices to the walrns
head is to enable the animal to dig for
CLAIMS and other shell fish, and also the
bulb roots of sea weeds that are to be
found at the mouths Of the numerous
small streams and creeks that flow into
the Arctic. In the vicinity of Point
Lay and Icy cape beds of CLAIMS abound.
and it is at thi, portion of the coast
line that the walrus is mos often shot.
Sorss of the whaling captains have
told nc stories of walrus attacking Il
boa and using their tusks as a means
Of defense, but this, although probable.
may be only a yarn. In their motions
whct swimming they exhibit wonder
ful speed and deXterity. A walrus
bladder is eagerly sought after by the
Mutes. 1t forms the head of the drum
used at dancing parties.
THE GRAMPUS.
Schools of white whale beluga, or
grampus-are the first of the ~oetaccan
family that appear along the Alaskan
shores when the Ice begins to break up.
Their cleaning white color is scnsibly
visible AS they gracefully cleave the
dark green waters Of the sea. Follow
ing the ice pack as it drifts to north
and west, these grampus seem to be
the forerunners of their gigantic broth
crs, the bowhead whale balpna, in
Their passage to the northern waters.
In hunting these white whales
the natives on Kotzehne sound
display great ingenuity. A
fleet of kyacks spread into a semi
circle ~inclosc the school. gradually
driving the af1rightcd fish into shallow
water, until. being unable to escape by
reason of grounding upon the beach,
they fall easy victims to the spear or
ilarpoons of their hunters. On the
coast to the north of the sound the
rifle again serves us a weapon to kill
the beluga. The Mutes have Il curious
custom which is observed whenever
the first white whale Of the season is
killed. After the carcass is brought
on shore, the Oldest male of the village
OF hunting party sits upon the beach,
and, facing the dead whale. intones a
series of inyocatious to the deceased,
imploring its spirit not to return to the
sea, and thereby warn other members
of his family against his captors.
Small portions of the lip and fins are
cut of and buried in the earth. Be.
fore this ceremony takes place no one
is allowed to commence stripping the
blubber or working upon the body.
W hen a seal is brought on shore it is
laid upon its back and some fresh
water poured over its head, so that the
spirit will not 90 back to the sea and
warn off the other phocn. White whale
blubber resembles limburger cheese in
taste, while the flesh, if of a calf, IS
tender and paIatable, The fins, when
boiled and covered with vinegar, are
an excellent substitute for pigs feet. ~.
H. u. w IN SIN francisco Chronicle,